DSOA began in 1981 with the desire to provide reliable and expert diesel marine engine services to South Florida. Since then, we have accomplished just that and extended to the Caribbean as well. One thing we have learned over those many years is that marine diesel engines can be a hardy piece of equipment that can serve you for many years to come. All it takes it to adhere to some simple maintenance rules and your engine should run like a charm. Unfortunately, there are a few misconceptions that can lead a well-meaning diesel owner astray. Our Diesel Services Of America techs will break down a couple of misnomers in the marine engine world so you can feel 100% confident with your diesel.
Oil
Due to the nature of diesel combustion, lots of dark soot and particulates are created as by-products. This can lead to panic when the oil is checked. A prudent boater will check their oil often. It is recommended that oil be checked before every outing, in fact. But when new oil comes up black, it can seem like something is wrong. Do not fret: this is absolutely normal! It would actually be more of a cause for concern if your oil stayed pristine looking. This would indicate that your oil is not doing its job.
The best way to determine when to change your oil is to pay attention to your engine hours. Every diesel engine manual should outline the manufacturer’s recommendation for engine hours between oil changes. An hour meter makes this task remarkably simple. If your vessel does not already have an hour meter, a DSOA technician can easily install one.
Fuel
When browsing the internet for marine diesel tips, one thing you are bound to see over and over again are the words “high-quality fuel”. It has become a bit of a mantra at this point. It is true that a quality fuel will do wonders for the operation and longevity of your engine. However, if you believe that pumping your tank full of class-A fuel is the only precaution you need to take, think again.
Because diesel full also takes on the extra responsibility of lubrication, clean fuel to start is important. However, as excess fuel is siphoned back off to the fuel tank, even the best fuel can pick up debris. Proper maintenance of your fuel filters is crucial to ensure that your “high-quality fuel’ stays high quality. It is also vital that water does not make its way regularly into your fuel. This problem can usually be quickly remedied by a fuel-water separator install by DSOA.
Our last tip and maybe the easiest for a boat owner to control is to keep a full tank. This simply keeps air out of the fuel tank. Air leaves space for microbes to form and for water to collect in colder months due to condensation. As we have established, any foreign substance in your fuel is best avoided.
Once it is all broken down, marine diesel maintenance is actually quite straightforward. The best way to void any confusion from the start is to trust your diesel marine engine services to the professionals at DSOA. We can create a maintenance plan perfect for your vessel so you can focus on the joys of boating while we take care of the rest. Take a virtual tour of our state of the art facility or speak to a technician to see why, when it comes to marine diesel engines, there is no one better than Diesel Services Of America.
Diesel Marine Engine Services
